MAHALO TO THE CANDIDATES WHO CHOSE TO COMMIT TO KEIKI

More than 80% of Hawaiʻi voters believe that Hawaiʻi’s next Governor needs to support Hawaiʻi's youngest keiki and their ʻohana, by expanding programs and creating ongoing and committed funding streams.

ABOUT COMMIT TO KEIKI

COMMIT TO KEIKI is a non-partisan movement to ensure that Hawaiʻi’s next Governor will take care of our youngest keiki and their ʻohana:

As part of our campaign:

1)   We’re asking the next Governor to share how they will help Hawaiʻi’s youngest children and families.

2)   We’re asking the next Governor to address young children and families in their first 100-day plan, state budget and policy priorities.

Join us to give Hawaiʻi’s youngest keiki a brighter start!

 

“If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that the current lack of investment in our keiki and ‘ohana is not sustainable and hurts Hawai‘i long-term. Parents need to get back to work and our keiki need to receive the attention, education, funding and services they deserve.

The Commit to Keiki campaign intends to change this dynamic and work with all gubernatorial candidates and, ultimately, the state’s next governor to address the needs of our youngest keiki.”

Al Castle
Executive Director
Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation

WHY COMMIT TO KEIKI?

Voters support investments in our youngest keiki – babies, toddlers and preschoolers

Nearly 9 in 10 Hawaiʻi voters polled think it is important for their next governor to ensure that programs that benefit our state's young children are core services that cannot be cut.

Studies support the need for strong and sustained early childhood programs

Science has shown us the critical importance of early brain development for long-term health, learning and well-being.

Businesses support needed gains in educational opportunities

Early learning positively impacts school success, our economies, and our communities at-large.

“In addition to the benefits to our keiki, investing in our young children has long-term benefits to our entire community and its economic vitality. Funds spent on high-quality efforts targeting young children are proven to be more cost effective than remedial efforts later in life. And these efforts show a 6-to-1 return on investment to the community in the form of greater earning potential and lower costs in areas such as health care.”

Keala Peters
Vice President of Education and Workforce Development and Executive Director of Sector Partnerships
Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i

OUR THREE PILLARS

CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING

“Hawai‘i’s families need more help with child care and early childhood education... There has been too little movement forward on this front, however, and in response, a movement is growing to impress politicians with the public desire for more action."

Editorial

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

“...in order for comprehensive mental health services for young children to be offered, there needs to be a state investment in workforce development and reimbursement for those services.”

Erin Henderson Lacerdo & JoAnn Farnsworth

Honolulu Civil Beat

FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION

"Children exposed to violence may experience issues with attachment, school engagement, longer-term academic success, relationships and parenting. Elementary-school-age children (6 to 12 years) have difficulty paying attention at school or at home. They may even become quiet or withdrawn."

Renae Hamilton-Cambeilh

The Garden Island Newspaper

OUR STEERING COMMITTEE

Trevor Abarzua Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi	Justina Acevedo-Cross Hawaiʻi Community Foundation	Greg Auberry Consuelo Foundation
Al Castle Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation	Kanoe Enos Aʻaliʻi Alliance	JoAnn Farnsworth Association for Infant Mental Health Hawaiʻi
Kealailiahi Ford Honolulu County Youth Commission	Sulma Gandhi Stupski Foundation	Danny Goya Ke Ala Hoʻaka
Alex Harris Harold KL Castle Foundation	Sakinah Harrison W.K. Kellogg Foundation	Shawn Kanaʻiaupuni Partners in Development Foundation
Nanci Kreidman Domestic Violence Action Center	Ryan Kusumoto Parents and Children Together	Kaʻiulani Laehā ʻAha Pūnana Leo
Alice Luck Kauaʻi Keiki to Career	Kawika Mattos State Fatherhood Commission	Megan McCorriston Seagull Schools
Jeff Mohr The Omidyar ʻOhana Fund	Bobbie-Jo Moniz-Tadeo Imua Family Services	Krista Olson Nest for Families
Keala Peters Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi	Bob Peters Early Learning Board	Cherilyn Shiinoki Family Hui Hawaiʻi
Angela Thomas Early Childhood Consultant, Hawaiʻi Island	Ka`ano`i Walk Kamehameha Schools	Carol Wear PATCH
Hawaiʻi Executive Collaborative